For 29 years, SoffSeal, Inc. has led the way in the automotive restoration rubber market and each of those years the company has been led by its founder and President Gary Anderson. Unfortunately, Saturday March 7, Gary lost his long battle with heart disease.

The Hub had the pleasure of catching up with Gary at SEMA 2007:

Anderson had been involved in the automotive hobby his entire life and was one of the founding members of ARMO, an active member of NSRA, NHRA, Goodguys, AACA and many trade organizations. He was also an avid drag racing fan and participant; attending his first national drag racing event in 1960 at the NHRA Nationals in Indianapolis, an event he attended with his father. Anderson’s love for speed continued his entire life, as owner of SoffSeal he helped catapult Rob Vandergriff and his 1957 Chevrolet Top Sportsman car to becoming one of the first Pro/Mod cars in existence. The duo went on to set numerous national records and held the title as “Worlds Fastest 57 Chevy” for many years. His dedication to the sport and promotion of Pro Modified cars is reflective in their popularity today. His days on the track were some of his finest.

His business successes paralleled his on track successes. SoffSeal’s constant “Attention to Detail” was more than a company slogan, it truly was how Gary lived his life. His peers honored him in 1999 as the ARMO Person of the Year. The national Race Against Drugs program has also honored him for his years of tireless dedication to the youth in the racing hobby. There is no way to express the ways that Gary Anderson affected the automotive hobby, his contributions were far and wide and the number of lives he touched was vast. Everyone at SoffSeal will miss him, and in his name the company will continue to provide the level of service and quality of goods that Gary would expect. We appreciate your thoughts during this time of loss for our company, our family and our hobby.

ServicesServices will be held this Friday in Cincinnati, OH. Calling hours will be from 10-12 at the Dalbert, Woodruff, and Isenogle funeral home at 2880 Boudinot Ave. Cincinnati, Ohio 45238. Gary will be laid to rest immediately following a service at the funeral home at the Arlington Memorial Gardens at 2145 Compton Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45231

In lieu of flowers the family has asked that if you desire contributions can be made to the American Heart Association or the Lifelink Department of the Tampa General Hospital in Gary’s name.

I know this happened months ago, but this is the first I heard about it. I had the opportunity to meet Gary at a Super Chevy Show back in the late eighties-early nineties. I illustrated Rob Vandergriff’s Soffseal-sponsored ‘57 for the National Dragster Kid’s Art Contest, and was fortunate to have it printed in the publication. Gary saw it, sent me a care package of stuff, and also sent several tickets so that we could see them when they came to race in Indy. I got to speak with both Rob & Gary, and was given a very early sneak-peak at the conceptual illustration for the then radical “aero” ‘57 that Rob was going to be debuting the following season. Gary made a big impression on this then 14/15 year old kid, and I will never forget it!